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Israel Tours & Trips

Be immersed by the artistic vibes and nightlife of Tel Aviv, photograph impressive sunrise vistas from Masada, or admire Jerusalem, one of the world's oldest cities. As the Land of Milk and Honey, an adventure in Israel would not be complete without visits to the biblical sites of Galilee, Bethlehem, and Jericho. Whether you want to float in the Dead Sea, embark on a Christian expedition or even book a private tour of Israel, Egypt and Jordan , this ancient landscape is full of experiences that will enlighten your mind, body and soul.

250+ Israel tour packages with 991 reviews

• In-depth Cultural
• Sightseeing
• Christmas & New Year

Jewish Israel Tour Package, 5 Days

Everything from beginning to end was fantastic.The guides were amazing and the only negative was that it had to end.

8 Days Highlights of Israel

Interesting and very informative.

Jewish Israel Tour Package, 7 Days

Excellent Tour. The tour guides have managed the tour very well as per the plan. Hotel accommodation was also good. Great for those who are looking for a Jewish experience. Highly Recommend...

Heritage of the Holy Land

Itinerary excellent, Orna our guide was outstanding, My only criticism was the hotel location in Jerusalem- it was just too far out of the city to be able to walk to the sites - my recommendation would be to use one closer to facilities!

Discover Israel

Informative and interesting historical and biblical sites. Accommodations and food were very good and guides and drivers were friendly. Only real glitch was pairing English speaking and Spanish speaking tourists together. Lead tour guide had to repeat everything in both languages. Both sets of tourists were frustrated as it slowed things down. Queue line control at the church of the holy sepulcher was lousy, allowing people to cut lines; and at one point the line didn’t move at all from 3:00 until 4:15. By 5:00, they rushed everyone through — if they maintained flow speed throughout the day instead of just at the end and had more queue line discipline, people could get through faster and suffer less frustration. Jordan river— site near Jericho had putrid looking water; should use a site closer to the Sea of Galilee where the water is cleaner. Dead Sea was disappointing— staff would not allow people to swim or float — only wading.

• Coach / Bus

Heritage & Holy Land - 8 days

Dear Folks, The tour was terrific and all I antiipated it would be - experiencing Israel in every way, shape and form everywhere we went! However, at my age the amount of walking was beyond my comfort zone after a several days. I was worn out after 4 days, and totally exhausted after the 6th day, after I'd rested my sore toe in the hotel the previous day! I'm in good shape for my age, however that much walking on unlevel terraine was w-a-y beyond my comfort zone and I'll sign up for that level of intensity again. The tour guides were great and professional. If I were to do another tour, I'll visit half to one/third the number of places we went, relax more, and spend more time at each place. Your foils online that answered all my questions were superb, kind and helpful. That's all, may God bless you all richly!

The Story of the Israeli State - 10 Days

My husband and I had never been to Israel and booked this tour as a “bucket-list” event. Our tour guide, Efraim Native, was the best - he was a history professor, knew philosophy, religion, politics, economics, abd engineering - answering every question we had. He was friendly, helpful and made excellent food recommendations. Our tour covered Tel Aviv (our new favorite city), Haifa, the Golan (do not miss the Hula Nature Preserve), and Jerusalem (Old and New). We added the Masada/Dead Sea tour at the end. Finally, we chose the 5-Star hotel option and stayed in true luxurious accommodations). We will use Tour Radar and Click Tours again!

Looking for tours beyond just Israel?

Explore tours with itineraries going through multiple countries, including Israel.

Past to the Future - The Story of the Israeli State - 11 days

The tour is very well-planned and paced. It gives one exactly what it promises: a chance to view the history of the Jewish people and the state through the major sites and cities.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Galilee, Golan, Caesarea and Nazareth 4 days

We had a fantastic tour to Galilee, Golan, Caesarea, and Nazareth, the guide Tomer was extraordinarily knowledgeable and answer any questions we had. We highly recommend him for your visit to Israel. The communication and the booking process with the booking-tours company were smooth, and all pickup was on time.

Heritage & Holy Land 5 star - 8 days

Jewish Israel Luxury Tour 10 days

We booked a 10-day Luxury Private tour of Israel. Overall, we enjoyed the trip, but there were some disappointments and several surprises that were not clear in the offering materials. The best part was that the guides were quite good. Our guide on the second day seemed to be willing to stay with us until 7 pm, but we had not energy for that. Perhaps he was paid by the hour! The connections to and from the airports were flawless. One flaw was that none of the guides offered us a map of the country or locations we were visiting. We had to get our bearings on our own. On the first three days, our guides (Gil and Eli) charged us for parking fees and entry fees. Thankfully, you have refunded these fees. We wonder if these two guides were reimbursed by the tour company as well as collecting from us. Our fourth guide (Sarah) paid for all fees. On the last day, Moti also paid for all fees. Our guide on the third day, Gil, skipped the visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Instead, he just summarized it verbally while driving past it on the highway. When we said that the visit was on our itinerary, he replied: “It’s optional.” Ha Ha! He evidently wanted to get home early that day, as he dropped us off at our hotel at the Dead Sea at about 2:30 pm. Thus, we did not get the full-day tour for which we paid. Gil had incorrect information about which was our hotel at the Dead Sea, but it was cleared up by phone calls just prior to our arrival. We did not understand that we would have no continuity of service from Bookings. Tour guides picked us up in the morning and returned us to our hotel at the end of the day. We did not have the names of our guides in advance, and were not provided with a telephone number to reach them. As a private tour we were to have some discretion over sites visited. Some guides understood this while others did not. The itinerary in the offering materials for the days in the Galilee made little sense, but our guide (Moti) was able to construct tours that worked. Our major complaint is that you promoted this as a luxury tour, yet there was little luxurious about it. Our Jerusalem and Dead Sea hotels were good. Our Tel Aviv hotel was less than good. Our 3-day kibbutz stay was not good. At the kibbutz, the room was not properly cleaned when we arrived. The TV was tiny and barely functional. We were nowhere near places to eat the evening meal and transportation to/from dinner was not easy. We tipped someone to drive us to and from dinner one night. However, the kibbutz breakfast was excellent. We think you owe us a partial refund for the three nights we spent at the kibbutz. In the evenings, we wanted to watch the French Open tennis at the hotels, but the hotel in Tel Aviv did not offer that channel. Also, at that hotel, I asked at the desk clerk if they could change a 100 NIS bill. The answer: “No.” Also, in that hotel, the thermostat was set to a temperature that was too cold for us, but it COULD NOT be changed. The hotel desk clerk advised with a smile: “You could turn it off.” Though the location was good, the breakfast at that hotel was plentiful but not the best. We added a day trip to Petra, expecting it to be of the same quality as the rest of our trip. Far from it! We traveled on 40-person buses and toured with the same large group. The walking tour was long, and we had to pay $50 for a return golf-cart ride.

Tailor-Made Best Israel Tour with Daily Departure & Private Trip

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

Tailor-Made Private Israel Tour with Daily Departure

Classic Israel & the Palestinian Territories

Really enjoyed this tour which showed the highlights of Israel from an historical point of view. It had a great varied itinerary with religious sites, history, culture and scenery. We were fortunate that our driver Henry suggested altering the itinerary to climb Masada first thing in the morning when it was cooler. The views were amazing! Really enjoyed the walking tour of Old Jerusalem. Our guide seemed less knowledgeable than other guides that we have had on past Intrepid tours but our driver helped fill in the gaps.

Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Dead Sea 4-Day Excursion

The tour was amazing! Masada sunrise - Ein Gedi - the Dead Sea - a wonderful mix of mountain hiking (not easy, but such a satisfaction from a successful ascent!), walking in the park and then relaxing in the Dead Sea. Jerusalem - history and modernity - it was interesting to see two sides of this city. And a cherry on the cake - a Tel Aviv bike tour - it was fantastic! Architecture, parks, history and especially the promenade - I enjoyed it so much! And also a complete delight from the hostel! There is a lovely lounge where a lot of events, nice bar and rooftop for guests to relax. Stunning atmosphere! The staff is friendly and professional - any help at any time. Thank you all, guys, you are amazing!

What people love about Israel Tours

Ami, Dima and all guides were excellent! And overall very well organized and thanks to Oksana for prompt response!

I had a wonderful time! Our tour guide Orna was very knowledgeable, caring and with very good sense of humor! The same thing I would also say about our bus driver Namir. We felt very safe and cared of.

Very knowledgeable and pleasant guides. Made the days interest and showed a lot of care. Great ambassadors of the company.

Israel Destinations

• Holy Land (31)
• Northern Israel (26)
• Dead Sea (11)
• Southern Israel (7)
• Central Israel (4)

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Israel Tours starting in

• Starting in Tel Aviv (144)
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• Israel Travel Guide | All You Need to Know

International Versions

• English: Israel Tours & Trips
• Deutsch: Israel Rundreisen
• Français: Circuits et voyages à Israël
• Español: Circuitos y viajes por Israel
• Nederlands: Israël Rondreizen

THE 10 BEST Israel Tours & Excursions

Israel tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Walking Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Carmel Market Tasting Tour - LocaLocal

2. 7-Night Israel Highlights and Bibleland Tour

3. Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour from Jerusalem

4. Galilee Day Tour

5. Tel Aviv & Jaffa Urban Bike Expedition

6. Tel Aviv Jaffa Guided Bike Tour

7. Israel Museum Must See High-Lights

8. Introduction diving at Coral Reef with Instructor - 40 minutes

9. Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Tel Aviv

10. 3-Day Petra and Wadi Rum Tour from Jerusalem

11. Masada, Ein Gedi, and The Dead Sea from Tel Aviv

12. Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat

13. Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Jerusalem

14. Day Trip: Masada Sunrise, Ein Gedi, and Dead Sea from Tel Aviv

15. Highlights of Caesarea, Haifa, Acre and Rosh Hanikra Tour from Tel Aviv

16. Private Full-Day Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole Tour

17. Jaffa and Neve Tzedek walking tour

18. Rappelling Down the Ramon Crater Cliff

19. Bethlehem, Jericho, and Qasr El Yahud Day Trip from Tel Aviv

20. Dead Sea, Masada and Ein Gedi Day Tour from Tel Aviv

21. Tel Aviv: Carmel Market Food Tasting (Shuk Ha'Carmel)

22. Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee Day Trip from Jerusalem

23. Old and New Jerusalem Full-Day Tour

24. 4-Night Jordan Wonders Amman Hotel:Petra,Wadi Rum,Aqaba& Dead Sea

25. Tour to Bethlehem, Jordan River, Dead Sea Mini Group. Up to 6 pax

26. VIP Tel Aviv airport Terminal 3 Fast Track Skip Line From plane

27. Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat

28. Private Airport Transfer - Tel Aviv (TLV) Airport from or to Tel Aviv City

29. Jerusalem Old City Biblical Tour from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem

30. Day Tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem from Tel Aviv

What travelers are saying.

Israel and the Palestinian Territories Tours & Vacations

Discover the many wonders of Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

Welcome to Israel and the Palestinian Territories , where ancient tales, sprawling desert landscapes, contemporary cities and flavor-packed cuisine are just some of the many drawcards. From the glistening northern coastlines to the depths of the Dead Sea, to mountain villages or cities full of bars and boutiques – a holiday here offers an adventure like no other. Come face to face with the significance of centuries-old traditions, savor mouth-watering food and gain a deeper understanding of this intriguing corner of the world.

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Israel and the Palestinian Territories at a glance

Capital city.

Jerusalem (population approximately 875,000)

Approximately 8.7 million

Hebrew, Arabic

(GMT+02:00) Jerusalem

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type C (European 2-pin) Type H (Israeli 3-pin)

Learn more about Israel and the Palestinian Territories

Culture and customs.

There are many annual events marking important dates in religious and cultural calendars across Israel and the Palestinian territories. Jerusalem, also known as the Holy Land, is touted as the historical and religious center of the Western world, with followers of Christianity, Judaism and Islam all holding the city sacred.

As you would expect from such a destination, there are daily displays of devotion and pilgrimage that happen on the streets and in public arenas, as well as a wide range of things to see. Take note of any traditions or events that occur which might affect your travel plans.

Shabbat , or the Sabbath, is a weekly day of rest recognized by the religious and non-religious Jewish populations, as well as some others across the region. The resting period lasts from 20-30 minutes before sundown on Friday to an hour after sundown on Saturday night, and depending on which part of the country you are in, you will notice different levels of impact on public transport and businesses.

In Tel Aviv, for example, Friday night is one of the city’s busiest nights, so you shouldn’t be too affected. In Jerusalem, however, many restaurants close until Saturday night, and your hotel front desk may close for Friday evening and the next day as workers may be observing Shabbat. If you find yourself in Jerusalem and parts of Galilee during Shabbat, ensure that you have researched places to eat and things to see that will be open and available over this time. In other parts of the country, like the North Coast, Negev Desert, Dead Sea and Tel Aviv, your stay should be mainly unaffected; however, it’s best to have a back-up plan just in case your preferences aren’t open.

It is important to understand how Shabbat could affect your visit, as you may find yourself without many restaurant or cafe options, or having to walk or take an expensive taxi (if you can find one) to get around.

During the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic calendar (the Gregorian, or ‘Western’, calendar equivalent dates of which change each year) Ramadan is observed by Muslims across the world as a time of spiritual rejuvenation. For this month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset – refraining from eating and drinking during daylight hours. The period of Eid marks the end of fasting with three days of feasting and celebration. For the duration of Ramadan, expect almost all restaurants and some other establishments in Muslim areas to be closed during daylight hours, with the exception of hotels.

History and government

Ancient history.

The roots of Israel extend back thousands of years, and many stories of origin stem from the Hebrew Bible and trace back to Abraham, who is considered both the father of Judaism (through his son Isaac) and Islam (through his son Ishmael). Descendants of Abraham are said to have been held captive in Egypt for centuries before settling in Canaan, located where some of Israel and the Palestinian Territories’ contested regions are today. These sites, and especially Jerusalem, have been besieged and ruled by many empires over the centuries of their history – Babylonian, Persian, Greek Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, among others.

20th century

Fast-forward to the 20th century, when Great Britain supported an establishment of a permanent Jewish state in the region then recognized as Palestine. British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour stated intentions to set up a ‘national home’ in Palestine for Jewish populations under the Balfour Declaration. In late 1947, the United Nations approved a plan for the partition of Palestine. On 14 May 1948, Israel proclaimed its independence under the rule of the head of the Jewish Agency, David Ben-Gurion. For Palestinian Arabs, this meant a mass exodus from what was to become Israel.

Since then, as over many points during the region’s history, there has been a series of conflicts regarding control in the territories. Currently, parts of Israel and the Palestinian Territories are still contested, and complex political relationships exist in the country to navigate administration over certain regions, whether the responsibility of Israel, Palestine, or a combination of both. Israel has peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt , but not some other Middle Eastern neighbors, so border crossing can be complicated.

Eating and drinking

These regions are full of delightful things to taste. Whether you’re fine-dining in Tel Aviv or having a street-side snack at Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem, there's no shortage of Middle Eastern cuisine to keep your mouth watering.

Found in food stands on street corners and in markets all around the country, falafel is touted as Israel’s national dish and, despite competing stories of where they were invented, these snacks are now a staple in Israeli cuisine. Made from fava beans, chickpeas or a combination of both, enjoy them as either part of a Middle Eastern mezze, or stuffed into a pita with hummus, tahini, pickles and salad.

Shakshuka accurately translates as ‘a mixture’, describing a dish of eggs baked in a spiced tomato, chili, pepper and garlic sauce and served in a traditional pan. Every street food vendor or shakshuka master believes they’ve got the best recipe, so it’s a good idea to taste a broad sample in order to decide for yourself!

Can anything be more perfect? This silky chickpea dip is a pita’s best friend, and can be lathered on nearly anything and everything, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. To take things up a notch, order a hummus masabacha (topped with chickpeas, paprika, lemon and tahini) or hummus kawarma (topped with lamb mince, onions and parsley).

The Greeks have got souvlaki, the Turkish have got doner, but in these parts, it’s called shawarma. This type of local kebab is all about the traditional spices used and the ingredients that get stuffed inside – think hummus, salad, pickled turnips and tahini. An easy on-the-go lunch.

Obviously, many Middle Eastern classic dishes are hard to trace back their origin; however, sabich is one that definitely finds its roots as Jewish Israeli. Brought here in the 1950s by Jewish immigrants from Iraq, this pita stuffed with fried eggplant, hard boiled eggs, salad, hummus and tahini is now one of the country’s most popular street food dishes. Sabich is often topped off with a drizzle of amba – a spicy sweet mango chutney.

Lechem bread

If you haven’t realized already, Israeli cuisine is big on bread. In particular, lechem bread plays not only an important role in the country’s diet, but is also of religious significance in Jewish cultures – often breaking two loaves of this bread signifies the start of a meal during Shabbat.

A sweet dessert found all around the Middle East, knafeh is a cheese pastry soaked in sugar syrup, often flavored with rosewater or orange blossom. Perfect for an after-dinner snack, or an afternoon pick-me-up.

This part of the world is also known for growing wine grapes. The biggest wine-growing region, the Sharon Plain near the Mount Carmel range, boasts perfect conditions – a temperate climate and sediment-rich soils on slopes that face the Mediterranean Sea. Visit Zichron Yaakov, a town in this region, on an Intrepid Real Food Adventure for a day of wine tasting.

Geography and environment

With beaches and chalk cliffs on the Mediterranean coastline, parched desert in the north, mountains (and more desert!) in the south and fertile valleys in the center, Israel and the Palestinian Territories boast an astounding amount of diverse landscapes to travel through in a small area, meaning you can bounce from one geographic wonder to another with minimal travel time.   Sharing borders and cultures with Egypt , Jordan , Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, you can find modern cities, like Tel Aviv and remote villages in the mountains.

From the ultra-modern shopping malls of Tel Aviv to the laneway markets of Jerusalem’s Old City, there’s no shortage of shopping spots in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. In Tel Aviv and some parts of Jerusalem, expect to see some big global brands, as well as local favorites, such as Hamashbir and Castro.

During your time here, you’ll have opportunities to walk around and shop at local markets. For purchases under roughly USD 8 (ISL 30), it's best to carry small denominations of currency, as stallholders or retailers likely won’t accept credit cards as payment.

Outside of markets and Jerusalem’s Old City, bartering is usually not accepted, and most stores have fixed prices for their products. If you do have any questions about shopping at markets or stores during your time in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, ask your group leader who’ll be able to let you in on the dos and don’ts.

Israel and the Palestinian Territories travel FAQs

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do I need a visa to travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

Israel and the Palestinian Territories grant on-arrival visas to tourists of most nationalities. If you have evidence in your passport of visits to certain Islamic countries, Israeli border officials will scrutinize you regarding the purpose of your visit to Israel. The delay can be difficult and lengthy; however, patience and a friendly demeanor are advised when dealing with officials. Instead of an entry stamp, you will receive a loose entry card on arrival. Keep this in your passport until you leave, as this is evidence of your legal entry into Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

It is important to be aware that many Arab and Islamic countries deny entry to any person that has evidence of a visit to Israel. Syria, Iran, Libya and several other countries are included in this list. If you wish to travel to other countries in the region after Israel, please note that you may be refused entry if your passport, luggage or possessions indicate you have been to Israel.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveler. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your nationality. Check the Essential Trip Information section of your tour itinerary for more information.

Is tipping customary in Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

Tipping 10-15% for good service is standard practice in restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as on tours. Taxi drivers and other service workers like hotel staff generally don't expect tips. Tipping is not compulsory in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, but if you are satisfied with the services provided, a tip is appropriate.

What is the internet access like in Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

Internet access is widespread in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, so accessing the internet via wi-fi hot spots is easy in Israel's cities. Rural areas will have less internet connectivity, so beware of this when traveling through remote regions of the country.

Most accommodation and some eateries offer wi-fi networks, which are usually free to use with an access code. If you wish to stay connected for the majority of your trip, it may be wise to purchase a prepaid SIM card with a data package or a wi-fi hotspot.

Can I use my mobile/cellphone while in Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

Cell phone coverage is excellent in Israel and the Palestinian Territories’ major cities and built-up areas. Expect limited to no phone coverage in more isolated areas like the Negev Desert.

Global roaming can also be activated when traveling through Israel and the Palestinian Territories; however, be sure to check with your service provider to find out about any fees you may incur when using this option, as sometimes this can be expensive.

What are the toilets like in Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

Most toilets in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are of the modern, flushable variety, but if you’re traveling in remote areas, you may still find squat toilets in use.

What will it cost for a…?

Israel and the Palestinian Territories' unit of currency is the shekel. Prices here are approximate and shown in US dollars for ease of comparison.

• Can of soft drink = USD 1.70–2.30
• One hour in an internet cafe = USD 4.50
• Takeaway snack or light lunch = USD 7–8.50
• Simple dinner at a cafe or restaurant = USD 17–29

Can I drink the water in Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

Tap water is considered safe to drink in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, unless marked otherwise. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water instead.

Are credit cards accepted widely in Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

The vast majority of large hotels, restaurants and shops will accept credit cards. For smaller purchases, such as bus and taxi fares, markets and paying for something less than roughly USD 8 (ISL 30), it is advised to have cash on you to cover these costs.

What is ATM access like in Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

ATMs are easily found in Israel and the Palestinian Territories' cities and major towns. They’re less common in rural areas, so prepare accordingly before traveling out of urban centers. In general, ATMs in Israel offer a more competitive exchange rate for local currency than buying Israeli shekels outside of the country.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

What public holidays are celebrated in Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

• Passover (8 days, usually in April)
• Easter (March or April)
• Israel Independence Day/Yom Haatzmaut (April)
• Palestine Independence Day (15 November)
• Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic calendar, usually May)
• Eid Al Fitr (end of Ramadan, May or June)
• Shavuot (Pentecost, sixth day of Shivan – May or June)
• Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year – usually September)
• Islamic New Year (usually August, September or October)
• Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement – September or October)
• Sukkot (Tabernacles – usually October)
• Simchat Torah (September to October)
• Hanukkah (December)
• Christmas Day (25 September)

For a current list of public holidays in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, including the movable dates noted above, go to worldtravelguide.net Israel and Palestine .

When is the best time to travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

Israel and the Palestinian territories offer diverse experiences throughout the year, so there’s really no one ‘best’ time to visit. The shoulder seasons of April–May and September–October are ideal in terms of weather – pleasantly mild temperatures and little to no rainfall. However, many people choose to travel to the area over Christmas to experience winter festivities in Bethlehem, or in summer when coastal hubs like Tel Aviv and Haifa come alive at beach resorts and with outdoor nightlife. There’s a range of things to do in any weather, from skiing in the highlands to enjoying the sun near the Red Sea, so no matter what time you choose to go, it's a great place to take a vacation year-round.

Above all, it's important to note that travel will be affected during religious holidays, with the majority of shops, businesses and public transport shutting down for major public holidays and events. Be sure to consider how Jewish or other religious holidays, like Ramadan, may affect your stay.

What is the weather like in Israel and the Palestinian Territories?

Israel and the Palestinian Territories generally share a Mediterranean climate, with the summer months providing loads of sunshine and scorching temperatures that can reach upwards of 100°F. June to August usually sees the highest temperatures, with milder weather prevailing during autumn (September–October) and spring (April–May). Winter (around November–March) means cooler temperatures and light rain. Snowfall can sometimes occur in the highlands and even in Jerusalem

Are Israel and the Palestinian Territories safe for LGBTQIA+ travellers?

Compared to many of its Middle East neighbors, Israel is quite progressive when it comes to a stance on LGBTQIA+ rights. Homosexuality is legal and some protections are in place regarding gender identity discrimination. Although same-sex marriages are not performed here, they recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Since 2015, the Israeli Health Ministry has allowed transgender people to change their registered gender legally without sex reassignment surgery.

Tel Aviv has a thriving gay scene, with many of the bars and nightlife geared towards this. Tel Aviv also hosts a Gay Pride Parade each year in the second week of June, which attracts over 250,000 attendees from across the world.

In the Occupied Palestinian Territories the law does not provide any explicit protections for LGBTQIA+ persons, but there are no formal laws against same-sex sexual activities. Officially, same-sex relations are not illegal but social and cultural attitudes towards homosexuality can be conservative and laws against ‘indecency’ are sometimes used, on an irregular and unpredictable basis, to criminalize same-sex acts.

There are still many conservative regions around Israel and the Palestinian Territories, so be aware of the situation you find yourself in when you are traveling. In these areas, public displays of affection are not encouraged.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex – Israel and  Palestine – or ILGA before you travel.

If you are traveling solo on an Intrepid group tour, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travelers who do not wish to share a room.

Are Israel and the Palestinian Territories accessible for travellers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Visitors to Israel and the Palestinian Territories with mobility issues will find most areas accessible and easy to get around, with modern infrastructure, despite the old architecture and ancient sites.

Many of Tel Aviv’s beaches can be accessed by ramps, and some hotel beaches have beach wheelchairs available for use. In Jerusalem, the Old City has an accessible trail for those requiring a wheelchair, and many of the sites are wheelchair-friendly.

If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

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Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

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The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

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"Created as a state for the Jewish people after the Second World War, Israel is a fascinating confluence of nationalities, cultures and religions"

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Explore the sacred city of Jerusalem

Delight in the culinary, artistic and religious cultures that blend together in the Old City, before tasting modern influences in the New City. You will find a wealth of inspiration here in the divided lands of Jerusalem, one of the oldest cities in the world.

Relax at the Dead Sea

Take a surreal float in the naturally buoyant waters of the Dead Sea, landlocked between Jordan and Israel. With some of the greatest depths and salt levels of any lake in the world, allow time to absorb the magnificence of the experience and the dense minerals, long praised for their healing powers.

Soak up the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Tel Aviv

Explore the metropolis of Tel Aviv and its 1930’s Bauhaus buildings, which reflect the warmth of the city’s sultry temperatures. Watch the sun fade at one of many beach bars and taste delicious vegetarian cuisine on a rooftop with views of the pristine Mediterranean coastline. The party capital of the Middle East has a special buzz.

Walk through the bustling Israeli market stalls

Be awakened by the vibrant colors and aromas found in the labyrinth of market stalls in Israel. Walk between spices, nuts, fresh fruit, and delicacies from all over the Middle East, picking up handmade treasures crafted by local artisans to take home and treasure forever.

See the Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount

The iconic Islamic shrine, the Dome of the Rock, is an important site of pilgrimage for any visitor on an Israel vacation. Stand in awe of one of the oldest examples of Islamic architecture, complete with a majestic gold-plated dome and Byzantine tiles.

Our top 5 things to do in Israel

Lush valleys and saline lakes meet ancient spiritual sites and boutique bars. The spectacular setting of Israel holds no shortage of soul-stirring moments. Here are just a few of the things you'll do in Israel with Trafalgar.

Israel Museum

With treasures dating from pre-history to the present day, the Israel Museum dives deep with collections ranging from fine art to biblical archeology. Witness the revered knowledge of the Dead Sea Scrolls, bask in an oriental art garden and admire works by names like Pablo Picasso and Henry Moore.

Tel Aviv Museum of Art

The brutalist box structure of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art is a masterpiece in itself. Inside, marvel at a prominent Israeli art collection and works spanning from the 16th century to the contemporary across various mediums. Don’t miss the Department of Photography or Old Masters collection.

Bible Lands Museum

An archeological museum chronicling the culture of those mentioned in the bible, this private collection aims to use artefacts as evidence of biblical events. Spark your intrigue over Egyptian sarcophagi, Neolithic fertility figures and an array of antiquarian art.

Best museums in Israel

Israel’s antiquity is any archeologist’s dream, and its museums pay tribute to this fact, bearing treasures of its people from well into the B.C.E. Visit Israel with Trafalgar, and you will journey into the country’s indigenous art and contemporary sensibility via these museums.

To visit Israel without indulging in lightly fried chickpea balls would be the ultimate sin. The falafel has traveled far from its native shores, but nothing can compare to eating it here in its homeland, well seasoned and stuffed into a pita with pickled vegetables, tahini and hummus.

Israeli Salad

An accompaniment to most meals enjoyed in this part of the world, an Israeli salad is usually made up of diced cucumber, tomatoes and onion, drizzled with fresh lemon, olive oil and sumac or tahini depending on the time of day. It’s so delicious, you will eat it as a meal of its own.

First brought to Israel by the Sephardic Jews who cooked these delights in their native countries, Börek pastries are filled with salty cheese, mashed potato, mushroom, olives and more, typically finished with a sprinkling of sesame seeds. Test the temperature before you bite in, they are often served piping hot.

Best food in Israel

A tantalizing blend of Middle Eastern flavors, you’ll enjoy every second of your Israel trip with Trafalgar. We’ll show you how to eat your way around this eclectic culinary scene, savoring each destination along the way.

What to pack for Israel

A light scarf or shawl

If you plan to visit a synagogue, church or mosque, it’s a good idea to pack a light scarf or shawl to wrap around your head and shoulders out of respect. Clothing for men and women at these sacred sites should be of the modest variety – longish, preferably over your knees and elbows.

For those with tender feet, sandals may be a necessity for navigating the pebbles around the Dead Sea. Otherwise, go barefoot and enjoy the natural pressure-point massage they will give you before you float.

Considerate clothing

T-shirts with political statements or bold humour are better left at home on most trips, but particularly to the spiritual lands of Israel. Avoid feeling out of place by wearing simple, humble clothing at all times.

A market bag

Whether a humble backpack, a woven basket or your favorite shop’s tote, an easy to carry market bag is always an ethical and pragmatic way to haul around your market finds. In Israel, we guarantee there will be many.

A reusable water bottle

For those traveling in the dryer months, a water bottle is a necessity, as you will traverse much of the Holy Land by foot under the dense sun. Even though tap water is generally considered safe to drink, a bottle with built in filtration will help avoid illness.

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Join a Via Sabra Trip!

Embark on an Unforgettable Tour of Israel with Via Sabra

Imagine a journey where every detail is meticulously crafted, every experience is authentic, and every moment is magical. Dive into the heart of Israel with Via Sabra's all-inclusive tour packages and let us weave this dream for you into reality.

With Via Sabra, Israel unfolds like a beautifully written story. Whether you're captivated by its rich heritage, tantalizing cuisine, vibrant culture, or breathtaking landscapes, our expert guides ensure you experience Israel's essence, much like a local would.

Our curated tours for 2023 and 2024, with guaranteed departure dates, showcase some of our most sought-after itineraries. Booking your dream journey is just a click, WhatsApp, or call away. From that moment until your heartfelt goodbye to Israel, we've got you covered.

If our all-inclusive Israel vacation packages don't resonate with your vision, fret not. Reach out , and together, we'll sculpt a bespoke Israeli journey, tailored just for you.

In 2012, Avihai Tsabari birthed Via Sabra with a singular vision: to offer travelers genuine Israeli experiences, interwoven with the country's history, flavors, and soul. Our handpicked, all-inclusive tours cater to varied tastes, desires, and needs, unveiling not just the iconic landmarks but also Israel's best-kept secrets.

What truly distinguishes Via Sabra is our touch: a blend of passion, creativity, and commitment that really immerses you in its magic, ensuring every journey is both memorable and transformative. With us, you’ll see Israel, and feel it, live it, and cherish it. Join us and experience an Israel that will resonate in your heart forever.

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2023/2024 Israel Tours & Holy Land Tours

Take part in an unforgettable journey when you join one of Holy Land Tours . We offer Christian tours and Jewish tours, as well as short tours, daily Israel tours and much more. From the northern Galilee, through to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Eilat down south – experience the beauty of these cities – and much more – with our fully guided tours to Israel.

Christian Israel Tours More Tours

The Roots of Your Faith Tour

The most popular of our journeys, this Christian tour offers 5 star accommodation.

Into The Promised Land Tour

Explore all biblical & historical sites of Egypt, Jordan & Israel, while enjoying 5 star hotels.

Both Sides of the River Jordan

Visit the most important biblical and historical sites in Israel and Jordan.

Greece & Israel Journey Tour

Visit the most important biblical sites in Israel and experience the beauty of Greece.

Israel & Rome Journey Tour

Visit the Holy Land, the Roman ruins and Vatican City in this spiritual journey.

Israel & Greece with Greek Island tour

Experience the beauty of Greece and Israel. Also enjoy an unforgettable cruise to the Greek islands.

Jewish Israel Tours More Tours

The New Jewish Heritage Tour

Join our vacation packages and connect with your Jewish heritage.

In Depth Jewish Heritage Tour

Travelers will become acquainted with Israel’s most important cultural, biblical and historical sites

Grand Jewish Heritage Tour

The Grand Jewish Heritage Tour will lead you through the land of Israel from a Jewish Heritage perspective.

Ultimate Jewish Heritage Tour

An incredibly popular tour for anyone who wishes to explore every inch of Israel from north to south.

New Classical Israel Tour

A nondenominational tour that will lead you through the land of Israel.

In Depth Classical Israel Tour

Travelers on this tour will become acquainted with Israel’s most important cultural & biblical sites.

Ultimate Classical Israel Tour

A 16 day nondenominational tour that will lead you through the land of Israel.

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While we continue to pray for our entire AIT team in Israel, as well as their families and all innocents affected in Israel, we remain thankful for all passengers who returned home with us safely. We will be updating each of our passengers on the status of their October 2023 tours. Please check your email for updates from our Staff, and email or call us at 877-248-8687 with any questions, or if you don’t think you have received an email update(s). We appreciate your patience while we work with our many passengers.

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Tours to the Holy Land: Trips & Israel Tour Packages 2024, 2025

"Every place we visited was breathtakingly beautiful, with stunning landscapes and rich historical and cultural heritage. We highly recommend visiting Israel to anyone who wants to experience an unforgettable journey. We had a life-changing time there and are already planning to return." Simon L. and Beatriz G. – Tour to Israel/Egypt/Jordan February 2024 "I had a wonderful time in Israel. I felt while I was there the precautions that were taken for our safety were well in hand. I still got to experience many holy sites and be blessed by walking the path that Jesus walked. Every day was started in prayer, singing, or scripture reading which also extended the blessing of the trip." Quincie L. – Tour to Israel/Egypt/Jordan February 2024

Our Israel tours & Holy Land tours of 9-24 days for the Evangelical Protestant Bible believer are what Pilgrim Tours does best. Prepare yourself for a life-changing journey to walk where Jesus walked and visit Jerusalem, Galilee, & Samaria. Each of our Israel tours is led by a local guide who is an experienced expert on the historical, cultural, scenic, and spiritual history of the Holy Land. If you travel with 10 or more people, a private group tour can easily be arranged. Pilgrim Tours can customize an itinerary to fit your group needs with many options to choose from.

Concerned about safety? As a Christian tour operator, the staff at Pilgrim Tours takes a Biblical perspective regarding the current situation in the Middle East. We do not believe that peace in Israel is something that will occur until the Prince of Peace comes to restore His kingdom. Please do not make a reservation with us based on the hopes of a calm future. If you long for the special blessings only available in Israel, we will take you there. An expert driver and guide will carefully keep you from any areas that could present a problem and treat you to the riches of Israel as our special guest.

Below is a large variety of Israel tour packages departing in 2024 and 2025 year-round.

View Our New Israel Tour Highlights Video! Click Here

Reserve your tour at least 6 months in advance for an early booking discount, groups and parties of 6 or more click here for special rates, scheduled 2024 & 2025 israel tours.

View our Israel tours ranging from 9-24 days.

Take a tour of a lifetime and bring the Bible to life.

Hosted Israel Tours Group Departures

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Featured Sites in Israel

Explore a vast selection of beautiful historical and Biblical locations throughout Israel with our Israel Holy Land tour. You can visit Jerusalem, Galilee, and parts of Samaria, getting the life-changing opportunity to see where Jesus and many other Biblical figures lived and walked. We even offer Holy Land tours that allow you to see the Dead Sea, the Garden Tomb, and the Jordan River Baptism Site. Like all of our Europe tours , our Israel Holy Land tours are led by local guides who have extensive knowledge of the area and its history. If you want to experience the history of Israel and see the Bible come to life, our Holy Land tours give you that opportunity.

The city of Jerusalem offers a unique convergence of Judaism, Christianity, and the Muslim faith. For Christians who visit Jerusalem, you will learn about many stories of the Bible while walking her streets. Many actors in the Bible such as Abraham, King David, King Solomon, the twelve disciples and Jesus all lived, visited, or spent time there. The Passion week of Christ will be highlighted during our stay as we visit the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Western Wall, the Way of Suffering, and the Garden Tomb.

Sea of Galilee

Nowhere in Israel does the Bible come to life more than along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Pilgrims who visit the Galilee region have the opportunity to imagine what life was like 2,000 years ago and what Jesus and the twelve disciples experienced while fishing on the Sea of Galilee. The peaceful setting and the natural wonders of the Golan Heights to the east and Mt. Arbel to the west make for a great way to start your morning in quiet reflection. During our tour, we explore the Biblical towns of Capernaum, Magdala, and Nazareth and take a meaningful cruise on the Sea of Galilee.

The Dead Sea is not only the lowest and most lifeless lake in the world, but also nearly 10 times saltier than the ocean. Travelers will enjoy the beautiful colors of the blue water and the red mountains of Jordan to the east. Take time to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime Dead Sea “float” either in the sea itself or at one of the warm salt water pools at our hotel. The Dead Sea experience is truly a bucket list visit you won’t want to miss!

Garden Tomb

Our visit to the Garden Tomb and its surrounding gardens is normally one of the highlights of our tour to Israel. The Garden Tomb is a rock-cut tomb in Jerusalem that was unearthed in 1867 and is considered by some Protestants to be the site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. Our visit offers a unique time of prayer, reflection, communion, and praise, which will be a special life-long memory for many travelers.

Jordan River Baptism Site

The Jordan River Baptist Site or “Yardenit” is a baptism site located along the Jordan River just south of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. This site is frequented by Christian Pilgrims who enjoy imagining the setting of the baptism of Jesus. For anyone who would like to be baptized in the Jordan River, Yardenit has been developed to be a peaceful setting with beautiful gardens, clean colored water, changing facilities, showers, and a nice souvenir shop.

Caesarea Philippi

To many Pilgrim travelers, Caesarea Philippi is a special surprise while on their tour. Located along the rushing springs of Mt. Hermon, the beautiful and natural setting is where Jesus asked his disciples “Who do men say that I am?” He asked this question while observing the pagan worship of the god Pan as worshipers offered their sacrifice at the “Gates of Hell.” Our time at Caesarea Philippi is one of many opportunities throughout our tour to see the lessons and message of the Bible come to light in a special way.

Israel Tours: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best month for the Holy Land tour?

Taking a trip to Israel during the spring or fall offers the most enjoyable weather of the year but normally has the largest crowds. If you want to enjoy a peaceful tour with fewer crowds, consider visiting between December and February or June and August. We offer Israel and Jordan tours throughout the year, so you can select a trip that works for your schedule.

How many days do you need for a Holy Land tour?

We offer several types of tours of the Holy Land, so the duration of your tour depends on the tour package you choose. The Best of Israel Tour is our most basic offering and includes a Sea of Galilee boat ride, a trip to the Jordan River Baptism Site, the Dead Sea, and many opportunities to walk on the same land Jesus walked on. This is our shortest trip at just 9 or 10 days. Our most involved trips allow you to experience a wide range of historical locations over the course of a few weeks. Egypt tours are included in some of these packages, as well as tours in Greece and other countries. These tours can take up to 24 days, giving you the chance to spend an extended period of time learning about and visiting different parts of the world. From our Turkey tours to all of our Israel Christian tours, all of our tours feature a first-class hotel rating for the country you visit. We do offer some upgraded tours that offer better lodging options. You can review our hotel categories at https://www.pilgrimtours.com/company/hotelcomparison.htm . Check out any of our tours to view a day-by-day itinerary and see what amenities are included with each tour.

What is the dress code in Israel?

The dress code in Israel is different from other parts of the world. There are a few dress code basics you should understand before booking Israel tours: When you’re in Israel, there is no strict dress code. You can wear what you feel comfortable wearing. However, both men and women should try to dress conservatively and cover their shoulders and knees when visiting any of the religious sites throughout Israel. Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid tank tops and shorts. Men need to cover their heads when visiting the Western Wall. Pilgrim Tours provides a Pilgrim Tours ball cap upon arrival in Israel, but you might consider purchasing an affordable kippa that you can bring when you visit Jewish sites. Some places may offer a free kippa, but these are generally low quality. (Women are not required to cover their heads at any sight.) You can figure out what you need to pack and how to dress each day by looking at the itinerary for our Holy Land tours. Guides normally offer guidance on how to dress for the next day while on tour. We also suggest looking at the extended weather forecast as you prepare and pack for your trip.

Is there a lot of walking involved on an Israel Tour?

Our Israel tours do require a significant amount of walking each day and you should be able to walk unassisted 3-4 miles per day on average. Make sure you have a comfortable pair of shoes that provide adequate support. While there are bus and boat rides during these tours, you have to walk quite a bit to explore some of the Biblical sites. Our tour guides normally give the group a few options at sites for those that have physical limitations. One thing to keep in mind is that there are many hills and valleys in Israel which can make walking even more taxing. The amount of walking you have to do may vary based on the tour you take, so look at the itinerary before choosing your tour. The good news is that Israel is a beautiful country to see on foot, and you’ll have several opportunities to sit down and give your feet a rest. As long as you have a good pair of shoes and comfortable clothes, it’s easy to forget about all the walking you’re doing and enjoy the tour.

What passport & visa information do I need for your Israel tours?

U.S. citizens need a valid U.S. passport with at least six months validity beyond their intended stay to enter Israel. Make two photocopies of your passport. Leave one copy at home and carry the other separately from your original. Israel: U.S. and Canadian Citizens do not need a Visa when entering Israel. Non U. S. /Canadian Citizens are responsible to fulfill appropriate entry requirements of destination. Contact your Consulate office for requirements.

What common languages will be spoken during your Israel tours?

Hebrew, Arabic and English.

What currency can I use on your Israel tours?

The U.S. dollar is widely accepted across Israel, and we suggest bringing about $30 for each day you’ll be on tour. U.S. dollars are recommended for use for small purchases and lunches. Lunches typically cost $15-20. It is important to bring about 20 $1 bills as some bathrooms charge a small fee for use. Credit cards may also be used for larger purchases. ATMs in Israel are all connected to European and American banking systems. Please be advised that the ATM machines dispense money in SHEKELS – NOT U.S. DOLLARS. Please notify your bank before traveling overseas.

Do I need to bring a converter for the Israel tour?

Israel uses the European plug with two round pins. You will need to bring along the necessary converters and adapters to operate any 120 volt appliances such as hair dryers and electric razors as well as camera and cell phone chargers. Electricity in Israel is 220 volts 50 Hz.

What is the time zone for your Israel tours?

The time zone for Israel is seven hours ahead of EST and two hours ahead of GMT.

What climate should I expect during your Israel tours?

In Israel the climate is temperate, and temperatures all year-round are reasonable. Israel has two main seasons: winter (from November to March) is cold and rainy in most parts of the country; summer (from April to October) is hot and dry with little or no rainfall. The desert areas can be extremely hot in summer time.

Recent Reviews on Trustpilot, BBB, & Google

View what others are saying about our Israel tours on Trustpilot , BBB , and Google !

"Pilgrim tours is who I'll be recommending people to travel with. We've been trying to get to Israel for two years and finally made it!! Great company from booking to on the ground with great guides. All details taken care of with great hotels, bus, and the best guides!! Wonderful experience!"

"We had a great experience in Israel with Pilgrim Tours. Everything went very well and there were no glitches or problems of any kind. The bus and driver were top notch as were the hotels and daily breakfast buffets. Our tour guide was great as his depth of knowledge of the people, history and languages Israel was quite amazing. We will very likely use Pilgrim again in the future."

"We have toured with Pilgrim Tours three times and what a blessing. Accommodations, excursions, information and food were all high quality. Post pandemic, we were so thankful to return to Israel."

"I couldn't have asked for more for a trip to the Holy Land than what Pilgrim Tours provided me. It was the perfect balance of spiritual reverence, history, geography, and social issues. I am so grateful for the experience that I had on this trip."

"Our church group just returned from taking a "Best of Israel" ten day tour. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I am so glad we chose Pilgrim tours. From our excellent hotel accommodations, to our wonderful tour guide, we enjoyed everything. Our trip exceeded our expectations. I would recommend Pilgrim Tours to anyone who is planning a trip to the Holy Land. We definitely plan to travel with them again."

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2024 & 2025 Israel Tour Packages

Fully guided tours designed for an amazing experience of a lifetime, led by professional Government certified tour guides. Choose from our special Israel tours at great prices. Call us today and let us guide you on a journey to the “land of the Bible” you'll never forget.

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Israel Tours and Trips 2024/2025

From deserts to snow-covered mountains, the Middle Eastern oasis of Israel will leave you feeling transformed. The ancient city of Jerusalem attracts thousands each year with its cultural, religious and historic sites, while Tel Aviv is the hot-spot for food tours and a taste of local culture. Nature lovers will enjoy an expedition to Masada , an ancient fortress overlooking the Dead Sea.

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167 Trips in Israel with 22 Reviews

• Starts Tel Aviv, Israel
• Ends Jerusalem, Israel

Biblical Israel

• Trip customizable
• Best price guaranteed
• Tour Type Group Tour
• Activities City sightseeing & Cultural, religious and historic sites City sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites & Art and architecture 'data-more-tripid='17955'>+1 more
• Accommodation Hotel
• Transport Boat
• Age Range 8-95 yrs
• Operated in English
• Apr 11 10+ seats left
• View More Jan 1, 2019 Jan 2, 2019 Jan 3, 2019

• Ends Tel Aviv, Israel

Heritage Of The Holy Land

• No booking fees
• Activities Art and architecture
• Transport Private Vehicle, Boat & Coach
• Age Range 10-99 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 2,283
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 342
• Total Price from: US$ 1,941
• Apr 18 10+ seats left
• May 09 10+ seats left

Biblical Lands - 8 days

• Activities City sightseeing & Cultural, religious and historic sites City sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Art and architecture & Museum and gallery visits 'data-more-tripid='15860'>+2 more
• Transport Coach & Private Vehicle
• Age Range 18-80 yrs
• Jun 10 Only 8 seats left
• Jul 15 Only 8 seats left

Heritage Of The Holy Land And Jordan (multi Country)

• Accommodation Hotel & Resort
• Transport Jeep, Boat & Private Vehicle
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,447
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 517
• Total Price from: US$ 2,930

• Starts Jerusalem, Israel

Discover Israel & the Palestinian Territories

• Tour Type Small Group Tour
• Activities City sightseeing & Cultural, religious and historic sites City sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites & Art and architecture 'data-more-tripid='3118'>+1 more
• Transport Private Vehicle, Train & Minibus
• Age Range 15-99 yrs
• Oct 19 Only 10 seats left
• Nov 09 10+ seats left

Classic Israel

• Activities City sightseeing & Cultural, religious and historic sites City sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Museum and gallery visits & Art and architecture 'data-more-tripid='17953'>+2 more
• Transport Private Vehicle & Boat
• Apr 14 10+ seats left

Israel & the Palestinian Territories Real Food Adventure

• Activities Food tours
• Transport Private Vehicle
• Oct 16 10+ seats left
• Dec 11 10+ seats left

• Ends Bethlehem, Israel

Heritage & Holy Land - 8 days

• Activities City sightseeing & Cultural, religious and historic sites City sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Art and architecture & Museum and gallery visits 'data-more-tripid='15968'>+2 more
• Transport Private Vehicle & Coach
• Jun 06 Only 8 seats left
• Jun 13 Only 8 seats left

Five Days in Israel & the Palestinian Territories

• Activities Adventure
• Accommodation Hostel
• Transport Bus & Flight
• Age Range 18-35 yrs
• Sep 25 10+ seats left
• Oct 23 10+ seats left

Best of Israel

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites & Honeymoon
• Transport Coach & Boat
• Age Range 5-99 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 3,225
• Special Deal (3%): - US$ 90
• Total Price from: US$ 3,135
• Jan 02 10+ seats left
• Jan 16 Only 8 seats left

Jerusalem, the Dead Sea & Tel Aviv Experience 5D/4N

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites
• Age Range 18-99 yrs
• Mar 29 10+ seats left
• Mar 30 10+ seats left

8 Days Highlights Of Israel

• Brochure Price: US$ 2,280
• Total Price from: US$ 1,938
• Apr 21 10+ seats left

Classic Israel & the Palestinian Territories

• Activities City sightseeing & Cultural, religious and historic sites City sightseeing , Cultural, religious and historic sites , Art and architecture & Walking tours 'data-more-tripid='18180'>+2 more
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• Brochure Price: US$ 2,367
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Israel Tour Reviews

Israel - tour highlights and travel tips.

Holidays in Israel will show you an amalgamation of an ancient homeland and a modern world. From deserts to snow covered mountains, this Middle Eastern oasis will lead you to revelations that no newspaper or online article could ever express. A trip to Israel will leave you transformed because it will challenge every misconception you have ever heard.

Tour Highlights

• Travel to Israel’s north, and visit Mount Hermon; if you’re there at the right time, you might see some snow in this desert country.
• Sleep under the stars with the Bedouins in the Negev desert; enjoy a meal and tea, maybe even ride a camel.
• Visit the modern city of Tel Aviv, and experience the nightlife and the modernity of an otherwise ancient land.
• Smell, taste, and touch all of the food and drink Israel has to offer in outdoor markets, called shuks.
• Float in the Dead Sea; known for its magic mineral mud, this is the lowest place in Israel, and because of all of the salt, you are buoyant in the water.
• If you’re in Tel Aviv, go to the Olympic museum and learn of Israel’s checkered past with the Olympics.

Travel Tips

• If you’re in the shuk heckling and bargaining is welcomed and encouraged.
• Taxis and cars are a safe bet for transportation; the only thing to be aware of is the driving.
• When visiting Holy sites, like the Western Wall or the City of David, make sure to cover up; women in long skirts.
• Do not go to the shuks on Friday; people are dashing around trying to get their last licks in before Shabbat.
• Remember that from Friday night to Saturday night, Jerusalem and other cities shut down because of Shabbat; make sure you have everything you need before then.

Israel has seasonal weather so please do check up on the best time to visit Israel before planning your tour. And if you’re still hunting for more things to do and places to explore in Israel, do check out our Israel Travel Guide for more information.

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Travel to Israel or destinations around the world on an organized experience with opportunities for nearly all ages. Explore the possibilities by selecting a category below!

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Tap into the remarkable energy of Israel’s post-October 7th national volunteering effort in support of the displaced communities and Israel’s defenders

Lend a hand where and when it’s needed most, and connect with the people of Israel along the way on this fully subsidized volunteering experience

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey of remembrance and renewal with fellow Adult Delegation travelers in Poland with the option to continue on to Israel

Everyone in the family will be inspired on this tour of Israel’s epic history, natural beauty, and many cultural riches – led by a team of guides & youth counselors

Discover the very best of Israel on this guided tour for active adults that tells the compelling story of Israel through the lens of Jewish history and culture

Discover the riches of European Jewish history, and explore world heritage treasures on this guided tour of Poland, Budapest, Vienna, Prague & Berlin

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Explore southern Spain’s Jewish and world heritage treasures on a 10-day fully guided tour of Madrid, Granada, Segovia, Toledo, Seville, Cordoba, and Gibraltar

Explore authentic Sephardic traditions while touring the colorful markets, architecture, and culture of Marrakesh, Fes, Rabat, Casablanca, and more

Make new discoveries and explore new destinations on a tour coinciding with Israel’s moving Memorial Day & Independence Day holidays

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Teach English and volunteer on this highly subsidized and rewarding opportunity where you’ll pick up new skills and connect with Israeli society

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The gift of a free adventure is yours on a Birthright Israel trip with Israel Outdoors. Choose from a huge selection of dates, program options & departure cities

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A resume-building internship program that matches your skills and interests while experiencing the joy and adventure of a summer or winter in Israel

BBYO SUMMER — ISRAEL JOURNEY

Meet-up in Israel with teens from around the world for a summer full of new experiences and new friendships – no prior BBYO involvement necessary

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Explore the grand European cities of Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Krakow, and Warsaw on a tour for teens that combines history, culture, and adventure

BBYO SUMMER — VOLUNTEER ISRAEL

Volunteer. Connect. Renew. This service-based trip gives teens a chance to lend a hand where it’s needed most and connect with the people of Israel

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Tap into the allure of Morocco’s colorful markets and epic North African terrain while we discover an ancient Jewish community along the way

A career placement program for experienced tech workers – earn a salary as part of Israel’s innovation workforce while living the Tel Aviv lifestyle

MASA – REMOTE EXPLORE

Live the global nomadic lifestyle working or studying remotely from Tel Aviv while exploring Israel and the Middle East like never before

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Advance your career with hands-on experience in your field of interest while living like a native in Tel Aviv, the startup capital of the Middle East

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For over 50 years, Gil Travel has been the leading travel management company specializing in Custom Jewish heritage tours of Israel. Our deep-rooted passion and expertise in high-end Jewish-related Israel travel have made us the go-to choice for those seeking a profound connection to their Israeli Jewish heritage.

Jewish tours to Israel are not just trips; they are unique opportunities to connect with your roots. Imagine a Jewish heritage trip to Israel where you can lounge by the sea, play matkot, and soak up the sun. Envision the excitement of counting down the days until you stand before the Dead Sea Scrolls in the architectural marvel of the Israel Museum which you have been talking about for years with colleagues or family.

Share stories from your guided fully custom heritage tour of Masada with your congregation, or express to your coworkers the profound impact you felt while visiting Yad Vashem.

Beyond the popular sites, Gil Travel can also introduce you to off-the-beaten-path experiences, like visits to ancient settlement ruins or museums celebrating the musical history of the Jewish people, and even locating your own family heritage to visit in Israel. In addition, for those that keen on diving into contemporary Israel, we’ve got you covered, from meeting locals to understanding the essence of The Startup Nation.

With decades of experience, we craft custom luxury heritage tours in Israel that cater to diverse groups, always keeping your unique Jewish heritage needs at the forefront. Our extensive knowledge of Israel and fleet of professionals ensures a meticulously planned itinerary, tailored just for you.

We’re proud to have collaborated with esteemed Jewish organizations like Birthright and Maccabi USA. Whether it’s all-inclusive Israel tours custom packages or private journeys , we send thousands on their dream high-end Jewish heritage trip to Israel annually. 

Our dedicated staff is committed to curating transformative Jewish tours, and we’re confident in helping you plan your ultimate Jewish heritage tour in Israel.

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Blinken adds Israel stop to latest Mideast tour as tensions rise over Gaza war

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to the Philippines that it’s urgent to make humanitarian assistance in Gaza a priority. According to the U.N., 100% of the population in Gaza is at severe levels of acute food insecurity and desperately in need of humanitarian assistance.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks as he arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein, Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein, Pool Photo via AP)

FILE - Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the State Department, March 13, 2024, in Washington. Blinken will travel to Israel this week as part of his sixth urgent mission to the Middle East since Israel’s war with Hamas began in October. The previously unannounced stop comes as relations between the two countries have soured dramatically in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves while disembarking from an aircraft as he arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein, Pool Photo via AP)

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel this week as part of his sixth urgent mission to the Middle East since the Israelis’ war with Hamas began in October, as relations between the two countries have soured dramatically in recent weeks.

The visit comes amid a flurry of calls, planned trips by U.S. and Israeli officials and public airings of severe disagreements over the state of the conflict — notably Israeli plans to mount a major military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and what will happen to Gaza after the war ends.

The State Department said the Israel stop would cap Blinken’s latest Mideast tour that started in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and will continue in Egypt on Thursday. The top U.S. diplomat will be in Tel Aviv on Friday after talks with Arab leaders and foreign ministers in Jeddah and Cairo focused on the war in Gaza.

“In Israel, Secretary Blinken will discuss with the leadership of the government of Israel the ongoing negotiations to secure the release of all hostages,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. “He will discuss the need to ensure the defeat of Hamas, including in Rafah, in a way that protects the civilian population, does not hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and advances Israel’s overall security.”

Tensions between the U.S. and Israel over the prosecution of the Gaza war have been mounting for months over rising civilian casualties. And they have intensified as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said he will ignore President Joe Biden’s warnings not to start a large-scale ground operation in Rafah without credible plans to protect innocent Palestinians who have sought refuge there.

Biden, facing a tough re-election campaign ahead of November’s presidential election, is under growing domestic pressure to rein in Israel’s military response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel. Opposition to the war in the United States, Arab nations and much of the rest of the world has shaped the evolution of Blinken’s frequent trips to the region since October.

His first two visits were largely focused on re-affirming U.S. support for Israel in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attacks, but as civilian Palestinian casualties began to multiply and humanitarian conditions in Gaza deteriorated, his emphasis shifted to boosting humanitarian assistance and protecting innocents.

Since late last year, Blinken has also used his visits to stress the importance of Arab support for “day after” plans for Gaza and trying to coax Israeli leaders into accepting a status for the Palestinians that could help ensure Israel’s long-term security.

As that shift has taken place, though, the situation in Gaza has gotten worse and relations between the U.S. and Israel have nosedived. Public disagreements between Biden and Netanyahu have become more frequent and more intense.

In a phone call with Biden on Monday, their first in more than a month, Netanyahu agreed to send a high-level delegation to Washington to discuss plans for the proposed Rafah operation, and the Pentagon said Tuesday that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant would visit the U.S. capital next week.

In his talks in Jeddah, Cairo and Tel Aviv, Blinken is expected to focus on attempts to negotiate a cease-fire and hostage release deal, increase humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza by land, air and sea and plan for the territory’s post-conflict future.

In the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Blinken met with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. The prospect of normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is seen as a potential point of leverage in pushing the Israelis on easing civilian suffering in Gaza.

Blinken and Prince Faisal “discussed the urgent need to protect all civilians in Gaza and immediately increase humanitarian assistance to those in need,” the State Department said, adding that “resolving the conflict” and “preparing for the post-conflict phase” remain a top priority.

Blinken also “emphasized the United States’ commitment to achieving sustained peace through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel,” the department said in a statement.

But the Saudis have made clear that normalization won’t happen unless it is accompanied by a clear commitment from Israel to accept an independent Palestinian state by a date certain. Netanyahu and many members of his far-right government are opposed to a Palestinian state.

In Cairo on Thursday, Blinken will see Egyptian officials as well as meet with a six-member Arab committee that includes foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Morocco and the Palestinian Authority, according to an Egyptian diplomat.

This group has been charged with exploring ways to revamp, reform and revitalize the Palestinian Authority for a possible governance role in Gaza once the war is over. The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority has committed to reforms and replaced some of its top leadership.

Blinken’s discussions are also expected to touch on the cease-fire negotiations that have taken on new urgency as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has become increasingly dire.

Qatari officials, whose country is the main interlocutor with Hamas, said this week they were “cautiously optimistic” after talks with Israel’s intelligence chief in Doha. But, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said Tuesday that an Israeli ground operation in Rafah would set back any talks.

At least 31,819 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. A United Nations food agency warned that “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza .

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack out of Gaza that triggered the war, and and abducted another 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 people hostage, as well as the remains of 30 others.

Blinken meets with Egypt’s Sisi, is set to stop in Israel on regional tour

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday visited Egypt, where he met with President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi as part of his regional trip for talks to halt the fighting in Gaza. Blinken is set to visit Israel on Friday, as negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Doha, Qatar, appear to falter. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a delegation of Israeli officials led by David Barnea, head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, to travel to Qatar on Friday to work on the cease-fire negotiations, Netanyahu’s office said.

• U.S. aid to Israel should be tied to humanitarian requirements, former officials urge in letter to Biden
• Gaps between Hamas and Israel in negotiations are ‘narrowing,’ Blinken says in Egypt
• U.S. has put forward Security Council cease-fire resolution, Blinken says

Here's what to know:

Here's what to know, live coverage contributors 18.

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• Republicans hug Netanyahu tighter as Democratic tensions with Israel war strategy boil March 20, 2024 Republicans hug Netanyahu tighter as Democratic tensions with Israel war strategy boil March 20, 2024
• Blinken begins new round of Gaza talks in Saudi Arabia March 20, 2024 Blinken begins new round of Gaza talks in Saudi Arabia March 20, 2024
• Blinken to visit Israel amid tensions over plan to invade Rafah March 20, 2024 Blinken to visit Israel amid tensions over plan to invade Rafah March 20, 2024

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Israel-Gaza war

Israel-Gaza war: Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to make a quick stop in Israel as tensions are rising between the United States and Israel over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to invade Rafah . The Israeli military said Wednesday that it was continuing its raid on al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where people said they were trapped in dire conditions.

Middle East conflict: Tensions in the region continue to rise. As Israeli troops aim to take control of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, officials in Cairo warn that the move would undermine the 1979 peace treaty. Meanwhile, there’s a diplomatic scramble to avert full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon .

U.S. involvement: U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria killed dozens of Iranian-linked militants , according to Iraqi officials. The strikes were the first round of retaliatory action by the Biden administration for an attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members .

Blinken begins Middle East tour with strains growing in US-Israel ties

• LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
• Blinken set to meet Arab foreign ministers on Thursday
• Israeli military chief says Israeli forces are targeting Hamas at Gaza's Al Shifa hospital
• The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees issues a new warning about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza
• Israeli prime minister addresses US Republican senators

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Humeyra Pamuk is a senior foreign policy correspondent based in Washington DC. She covers the U.S. State Department, regularly traveling with U.S. Secretary of State. During her 20 years with Reuters, she has had postings in London, Dubai, Cairo and Turkey, covering everything from the Arab Spring and Syria's civil war to numerous Turkish elections and the Kurdish insurgency in the southeast. In 2017, she won the Knight-Bagehot fellowship program at Columbia University’s School of Journalism. She holds a BA in International Relations and an MA on European Union studies.

Russia's FSB chief says U.S., Britain, Ukraine behind Moscow attack - TASS

The director of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), Alexander Bortnikov, said on Tuesday that the United States, Britain and Ukraine were behind the Moscow concert hall attack that killed at least 139 people on Friday, state news agency TASS reported.

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Middle East crisis: consensus among US and Arab allies on need for immediate, sustained Gaza ceasefire, says Blinken – as it happened

This live blog is now closed. You can read our latest stories here:

• US calls for immediate Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal in draft UN resolution
• The US finally backs a ceasefire, but the nuances in its UN resolution show the tightrope it walks
• 5d ago Summary
• 5d ago Consensus among US and Arab allies on need for immediate, sustained ceasefire in Gaza – Blinken
• 5d ago US House speaker to invite Netanyahu to address Congress
• 5d ago WHO's Tedros: 'future of an entire generation is in serious peril' in Gaza
• 5d ago Josep Borell calls Gaza situation 'a failure of humanity' at EU leaders summit
• 5d ago US has called for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza with draft UN resolution
• 5d ago Israel determined to take Rafah even if it 'leads to potential breach with the US', says senior Israeli official
• 5d ago Hamas says those killed at al-Shifa hospital by Israeli military were patients and displaced people
• 5d ago Satellite images show 35% of Gaza's building destroyed, UN says
• 5d ago Four killed so far in Israeli operation in the Nur Shams refugee camp, says the PRCS
• 5d ago More than 140 militants killed in raid on al-Shifa medical centre since Monday, says Israeli military
• 5d ago 65 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, says health ministry
• 5d ago Saudi Arabia pledges $40m to Unrwa as Blinken arrives in Riyadh
• 5d ago World Bank report finds imminent risk of catastrophic famine in Gaza Strip
• 5d ago Israeli diplomats pre-emptively attack findings of Unrwa inquiries
• 5d ago 50 Palestinian gunmen killed in fighting at Gaza's Shifa hospital, say Israeli army
• 5d ago US unveils draft UN resolution seeking immediate Gaza ceasefire
• 5d ago Opening summary

Consensus among US and Arab allies on need for immediate, sustained ceasefire in Gaza – Blinken

US secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke moments ago in the Middle East, where he said that he believes a ceasefire deal for Gaza is still possible.

Blinken has flown once again to Cairo for a new round of talks, which have taken on new urgency in the face of famine unfolding in Gaza as it remains under Israeli blockade and bombardment. He said there is consensus among Arab allies and the US on the need for an immediate and sustained ceasefire.

The secretary said that the US is continuing to push for an agreement to be reached in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The Qataris have been acting as a mediator between Israel and Hamas , the Islamist militancy that controls Gaza and led the attack on southern Israel on 7 October last year, killing more than 1,200 people and taking about 240 people hostage, many of whom are still being held by Hamas and connected groups in the Palestinian territory.

Reuters reports that Blinken said about a ceasefire deal:

There’s still difficult work to get there, but I continue to believe it’s possible.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said he agreed with Blinken on planning “concrete steps” to increase aid to Gaza and continuing coordination.

Here is a wrap-up of the day’s key events:

The French ambassador to the UN security council addressed reporters on Thursday regarding Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, saying, “The first bridge to cross … is to have this Ramadan ceasefire now.” His comments come after the US, which has vetoed numerous ceasefire resolution in the UN security council, drafted a new resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” and hostage deal in Gaza.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said that negotiating teams are working “every single day” on a deal to get a ceasefire in Gaza in conjunction with a deal to release the remaining hostages taken from Israel into Gaza by Hamas. He added that there are still “real challenges” to a deal and he can’t put a timeline on it, Reuters reports.

Mike Johnson , the Republican speaker of the US House of Representatives, said on Thursday that he plans to invite Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before the US Congress. The comments come a week after Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate leader, called for elections in Israel which could oust Netanyahu, claiming the prime minister has “has lost his way”.

Cyprus is planning to get “as many boats as possible” to Gaza along a maritime corridor, Cyprus’s foreign minister, Constantinos Kombos, said, Agence France-Presse reports. In a meeting on Thursday, Cyprus hosted representatives from 36 countries, UN agencies and humanitarian groups in the port of Larnaca, where the first aid vessel set sail to Gaza earlier this month.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said that the “future of an entire generation is in serious peril” in Gaza. Adding that children are dying from the effects of malnutrition and disease, and from a lack of adequate water and sanitation, the WHO director-general said: “Recent efforts to deliver food by air and sea are welcome, but only the expansion of land crossings will enable large scale deliveries to prevent famine.”

Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, has said that she will visit the Middle East on Sunday. It will be her seventh visit since the 7 October attack inside southern Israel by Hamas.

A second ship, the Jennifer, capable of transporting up to 600 tons, will ply the newly inaugurated sea corridor connecting Cyprus with Gaza as soon as weather conditions allow. “It will go either at the end of this week or the beginning of next due to weather conditions,” Cyprus’s foreign ministry spokesperson Theodoros Gotsis told the Guardian of the second aid mission.

Satellite images analysed by the UN’s Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) showed that 35% of the Gaza Strip’s buildings have been destroyed or damaged by Israel since October. Khan Younis City had been hit “particularly hard”, it said, with 6,663 newly destroyed structures.

“Now it’s time to save lives … The [Palestinian] death toll … needs to stop now. This is why I will encourage the security council to take action … before the weekend,” France’s ambassador to the UNSC, Nicolas de R ivi ère, said at a press conference on Thursday.

“We cannot procrastinate again and again,” he added.

“The first bridge to cross … is to have this Ramadan ceasefire now,” he said.

Antony Blinken, talking in Cairo, has said that in addition to progress being made towards a ceasefire in Gaza, there has been progress towards the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel .

Antony Blinken , the US secretary of state, said that negotiating teams are working “every single day” on a deal to get a ceasefire in Gaza in conjunction with a deal to release the remaining hostages taken from Israel into Gaza by Hamas.

He added that there are still “real challenges” to a deal and he can’t put a timeline on it, Reuters reports.

Joe Biden had previously forecast that there would be a deal for a temporary ceasefire before the start of Ramadan on 10 March, which obviously did not happen.

Blinken, in Cairo for talks, once again urged Israel to “do more” to get more aid into Gaza , while international figures at the United Nations have already accused Israel of deliberately starving the Palestinians in the besieged territory.

Washington’s draft UN security council resolution on Gaza marks a shift in the US position , but it is a nuanced shift, retaining the linkage between a ceasefire and hostage release while loosening that linkage and emphasising that an immediate end to hostilities is the priority.

The primary focus for now is the hostage negotiations underway in Qatar which are moving into high gear again, with CIA and Mossad chiefs, William Burns and David Barnea expected to fly into Doha on Friday.

The US draft resolution is designed to provide a sense of urgency to those talks. It also represents an attempt by the Biden administration to keep pressure on Hamas while seeking to regain some international credibility and mend ties with allies after three vetoes of UN ceasefire resolutions.

The latest veto was cast on 20 February, on an Algerian ceasefire resolution. At the time the US envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield , insisted that an unconditional ceasefire could derail the talks on a hostage deal, which Washington portrayed as the best way to a sustainable truce. The US mission at the UN circulated an alternative text which the security council “underscores its support for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable, based on the formula of all hostages being released”.

A month has passed since then, however. There has been no hostage deal and Gaza has slipped much further towards absolute catastrophe, with a UN panel of experts warning that a famine is imminent . The US is struggling to avoid the accusation of complicity in that disaster, and February’s version of the text now looks all the more complacent.

The new version of the draft resolution circulated on Thursday morning represents stronger language.

Read the full piece here .

US House speaker to invite Netanyahu to address Congress

Mike Johnson , the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, said on Thursday that he plans to invite Benjamin Netanyahu , Israel’s prime minister, to speak before Congress.

The comments come a week after Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate leader, called for elections in Israel which could oust Netanyahu, claiming the prime minister has “has lost his way”.

Republican support for Netanyahu has remained staunch, despite the death toll in Gaza rising to more than 30,000 in the face of Israel’s continued military action.

“I would love to have him come in and address a joint session of Congress,” Johnson said on Thursday morning, in an interview with CNBC . “We’ll certainly extend that invitation.”

Having babies in Gaza is “just a frightening experience ”, U nrwa senior deputy director Scott Anderson said.

Following his visit to Gaza, where Israeli forces have decimated nearly all of the strip’s healthcare facilities since 7 October while killing more than 31,000 Palestinians, Anderson delivered a video address outside Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza City.

As we toured the hospital today, I saw a sign that said ‘We’re having a baby’ which normally is a joyous time … For the people that are in Gaza city, having babies is not a joyous experience, it’s a frightening experience. Mothers are concerned they won’t be alive in two weeks. They are concerned that the hospital won’t be here in two weeks. And they’re trying to have babies early to give up their lives to preserve their baby’s … This is entirely a man-made disaster, a man-made situation, and what we did to create this situation, man can do to save the situation.

"For the people that are in Gaza City having babies is not a joyful experience - it's just a frightening experience." @ScottAnderGaza visited a hospital in northern #Gaza , where the situation is dire & famine is imminent. The worst can still be averted with political will. pic.twitter.com/H3oK76TmB6 — UNRWA (@UNRWA) March 21, 2024

In a report released earlier this month amid Israel’s deadly war on Gaza, the UN found that an estimated 37 mothers are killed every day. Meanwhile, more than four out of five women report that their family eats half or less of the food they used to before the war began.

The scarcity in food across the strip comes amid the restricted caloric intake, or “humanitarian minimum”, Israel’s own officials set on Palestinians in Gaza years ago.

Cyprus is planning to get “as many boats as possible” to Gaza along a maritime corridor, Cyprus’s foreign minister, Constantinos Kombos, said, Agence France-Presse reports.

In a meeting on Thursday, Cyprus hosted representatives from 36 countries, UN agencies and humanitarian groups in the port of Larnaca, where the first aid vessel set sail to Gaza earlier this month.

The meeting “is about integrating all the states and entities that are participating in order to have a synchronised pace for our actions”, said Kombos, adding that the goal was to get “as many boats as possible [to leave for Gaza] … utilising and leveraging … our geographical position in the area”.

Working alongside the Turkish Red Crescent, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society distributed food parcels to displaced families in Khan Younis, Gaza , on Thursday:

The PRCS teams distributed food parcels in partnership with the Turkish Red Crescent to a number of displaced families in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis #Gaza pic.twitter.com/m1KusZ9hy4 — PRCS (@PalestineRCS) March 21, 2024

Following a since-deleted tweet in which Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy claimed earlier this month that there were “no limits” on the entry of aid into Gaza, as well as Levy’s claims that the UN closes the Kerem Shalom crossing on Saturdays, UK foreign secretary David Cameron addressed the claims in a reply to MP Alicia Kearns, who raised aid entry concerns to him.

In his letter, Cameron wrote:

In response to the Israeli spokesman claims you quote in your letter, I can confirm that the UN has not requested that the Kerem Shalom crossing is closed on Saturdays. It is our understanding that Israel closes it due to the Sabbath.

He went on to add:

It is of enormous frustration that UK aid for Gaza has been routinely held up waiting for Israeli permission. For instance, I am aware of some UK funded aid being stuck at the border for just under three weeks waiting for approval. The main blockers remain arbitrary denials by the government of Israel and the lengthy clearance procedures, including multiple screenings and narrow opening windows in daylight hours.

Grateful to @David_Cameron for such clarity in his response to my letter. He confirms, contrary to some claims: - The UN has NOT requested the Kerem Shalom crossing be closed on Saturdays. Israel closes it due to the Sabbath. - Aid not getting into Gaza due to “arbitrary… https://t.co/DTP0Vl5Ohz pic.twitter.com/cvrmdwRhOi — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) March 21, 2024

On Tuesday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Levy was suspended, the Jerusalem Post reports. A reason was not provided.

Since October, Israeli forces have killed more than 31,000 Palestinians across Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel’s attacks on the narrow strip have left about 2 million survivors forcibly displaced amid a severe food shortage that is an “entirely man-made disaster”, as described by UN chief António Guterres.

WHO's Tedros: 'future of an entire generation is in serious peril' in Gaza

Reuters is carrying some quotes from the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He said “The future of an entire generation is in serious peril.”

Adding that children are dying from the effects of malnutrition and disease, and from a lack of adequate water and sanitation, the WHO director-general said:

Recent efforts to deliver food by air and sea are welcome, but only the expansion of land crossings will enable large scale deliveries to prevent famine. Once again, we ask Israel to open more crossings and accelerate the entry and delivery of water, food, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid into and within Gaza.

He said that WHO requests to deliver supplies to the enclave were often blocked or refused.

Israel, which insists on inspecting all aid being delivered into Gaza, has repeatedly claimed there is no limit to what would be admitted. Nevertheless, a coalition of aid groups has warned that famine is imminent in northern Gaza with people suffering “catastrophic levels of hunger”, and on Monday Oxfam said Israeli authorities were preventing “a warehouse full of international aid” from reaching the Gaza Strip.

In his statement, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said :

WHO and our partners have been conducting high-risk missions to deliver medicines, fuel and food for health workers and their patients, but our requests to deliver supplies are often blocked or refused. Damaged roads and continuous fighting, including in and close to hospitals, mean deliveries are few and slow. A planned mission to al-Shifa today had to be cancelled due to lack of security. Once again, we ask Israel to open more crossings and accelerate the entry and delivery of water, food, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid into and within Gaza. Once again, we call for health care to be protected, and not militarized. Once again, we call for the release of hostages. And once again, we call for an immediate ceasefire.

Germany ’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock , has said that she will visit the Middle East on Sunday. It will be her seventh visit since the 7 October attack inside southern Israel by Hamas.

It has gone 5.20pm in Gaza , Tel Aviv and Beirut, and 6.20pm in Sana’a. Here is a recap of the latest developments:

The US has drafted a new UN security council resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza , amid mounting pressure on Israel to halt its military campaign and allow the delivery of substantial amounts of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory. Details of the resolution, which calls for “an immediate ceasefire tied to the release of hostages” in Gaza , were disclosed by the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, as he toured the Middle East.

EU leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday for a two-day meeting during which they discussed the war in Gaza amid deep concern about Israeli plans to launch a ground offensive in the city of Rafah. Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs said the lack of food and medicines in Gaza was “a failure of humanity” and Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, called for “an immediate pause in the fighting”.

Officials from 36 countries and UN agencies gathered in Cyprus on Thursday to discuss how to expedite aid to Palestinians in Gaza via a sea route launched last week. It was attended by Sigrid Kaag, the UN’s senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, as well as Curtis Ried, chief of staff of the US national security council.

A second ship, The Jennifer, capable of transporting up to 600 tons, will ply the newly inaugurated sea corridor connecting Cyprus with Gaza as soon as weather conditions allow. “It will go either at the end of this week or the beginning of next due to weather conditions,” Cyprus’s foreign ministry spokesperson Theodoros Gotsis told the Guardian of the second aid mission. “Currently there are about 240 tons [of aid] on board but loading will continue,” he said.

Blinken on Thursday discussed with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi the negotiations to secure an immediate ceasefire for at least six weeks and the release of all hostages kidnapped by Hamas , state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Blinken was in Egypt after visiting Saudi Arabia a day earlier. He also discussed with Sisi the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel.

Satellite images analysed by the UN’s Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) showed that 35% of the Gaza Strip’s buildings have been destroyed or damaged since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Khan Younis City had been hit “particularly hard”, it said, with 6,663 newly destroyed structures.

Half the population of the Gaza Strip is at imminent risk of famine as food shortages approach catastrophic levels for more than a million people, the World Bank has warned. Almost six months after the war between Israel and Hamas began, the Washington-based Bank said urgent action was needed to prevent widespread deaths from starvation within the next two months.

The Israeli military said on Thursday that it had killed more than 50 Palestinian gunmen over the past day in fighting around the Gaza Strip’s al-Shifa hospital , taking the number of fighters killed around the complex to 140 since it launched a raid on the complex on Monday. The military said it was continuing with its “precise operational activity in the Shifa hospital”.

Hamas condemned Israeli “crimes” at al-Shifa hospital. It also denied that the hospital harboured militants and said those killed by the military were injured patients and displaced people. The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said at least 70 people had been killed in Gaza overnight.

The occupied West Bank faced a “particularly violent” night on Wednesday into Thursday morning, said Al Jazeera journalist Laura Khan reporting from the area. She said the Israeli army had raided Tulkarem at dawn, an Israeli drone strike in Jenin had killed four men and in the south of Hebron soldiers had shot a man in the leg after he “tried to carry out a stabbing attack”. Khan also said “In Nablus, a witness account described how one man had his phone confiscated by an Israeli soldier and was brutally beaten for an hour, mostly in his face.” The Guardian was been unable to verify these incidents.

The death toll rose to four on Thursday in an Israeli operation in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said. Two of the four Palestinians were killed by an airstrike and two by live bullets, the PRCS said.

The military told AFP on Thursday that it had been carrying out an operation in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nur Shams , which adjoins the town of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank. “During the operation, an aircraft struck two terrorists who posed an immediate threat to the forces,” the Israeli army said. In total, nine Palestinians were killed in less than 24 hours in the West Bank, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

25 Palestinians, including two children, were detained overnight by Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank , Wafa said, citing the Palestinian prisoner society.

Arab ministers held talks with a Palestinian official in Cairo on Thursday to discuss efforts to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza , and were due to meet Blinken, who is seeking to secure a ceasefire of at least six weeks.

65 Palestinians were killed 92 were injured in Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, according to the latest figures from the Gaza health ministry, which is run by Hamas. According to the statement, at least 31,988 Palestinians have been killed and 74,188 have been injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants.

Israel will take control of Rafah even if it causes a rift with the US, a senior Israeli official said on Thursday, describing the city packed with refugees as a final Hamas bastion harbouring a quarter of the group’s fighters. Strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer made the comments on the Call Me Back with Dan Senor podcast.

A merchant vessel reported shots from a skiff approximately 109 nautical miles south of Yemen’s Nishtun , British security firm Ambrey said on Thursday. No damage or injuries were reported.

A burning object was thrown at the Israeli embassy in The Hague on Thursday morning. Police in the Netherlands said they had arrested a suspect and that nobody was injured.

Arab ministers held talks with a Palestinian official in Cairo on Thursday to discuss efforts to end the Israel - Hamas war in Gaza , and were due to meet US secretary of state Antony Blinken , who is seeking to secure a ceasefire of at least six weeks, reports Reuters.

The ministers met with Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) executive committee general secretary Hussein al-Sheikh to discuss “efforts to stop the Israeli war against Gaza , the inevitability of achieving a ceasefire, and full access to aid,” the Egyptian foreign ministry’s spokesperson said.

Blinken was also due to meet with Sheikh – a confidant of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and an intermediary in contacts with Israel – along with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia , Qatar and Jordan , and the United Arab Emirates ’ state minister for international cooperation, according to an Egyptian foreign ministry note, said Reuters.

Abbas’s Palestinian Authority , which exercises limited control of the occupied West Bank, could play a role in administering Gaza once fighting ends, though Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed strong opposition.

Blinken had already met with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss the negotiations to secure an immediate ceasefire in the war, now in its sixth month, and the release of all hostages kidnapped by Hamas , US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

They also discussed the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel.

Blinken had also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Lisa O’Carroll has also written about comments by Mark Rutte , the Dutch prime minister, who has called for “an immediate pause in the fighting”. Rutte said this would allow for more aid to get into Gaza and be distributed, and also to “get the hostages released.” You can read more on the European live blog here .

Josep Borell calls Gaza situation 'a failure of humanity' at EU leaders summit

My colleague Lisa O’Carroll is in Brussels and reporting from the EU leaders summit . She has been providign updates for the European live blog on comments made by Josep Borrell , the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs. She writes:

The lack of food and medicines in Gaza is “a failure of humanity” Josep Borrell has said on arrival to the EU leaders summit.

“What is happening today in Gaza is the failure of humanity, it is not a humanitarian crisis, it is the failure of humanity, it is not an earthquake, it is not a flood, it is bombing.”

“The only way you can stop the humanitarian crisis, human crisis is Israel respecting more civilians and allowing more support into Gaza.”

You can read more on Borell’s comments here and here .

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As Biden tours the country and visits swing states, Trump is fundraising and playing golf

As President Joe Biden campaigns for reelection at a furious pace, his 2024 rival, Donald Trump, is behind closed doors

WASHINGTON -- As President Joe Biden visited five cities in a multiday trip last week, former President Donald Trump was hardly seen in public, spending most of his time in South Florida.

Trump has held just a single public campaign event since he locked up the Republican presidential nomination on March 12: a rally in Ohio funded not by his campaign but by backers of a Senate candidate whom he had endorsed. The events page on his campaign website has had nothing listed.

Biden, meanwhile, has been barnstorming the country. After a trip to North Carolina on Tuesday, the Democratic president will have touched down in all of the 2024 swing states in the less than three weeks since his State of the Union address.

The differing approaches reflect the deficits each side is facing.

Trump's campaign faces a serious money shortfall and mounting legal bills as he fights four criminal indictments. His focus in recent weeks has been on wooing potential donors as his campaign builds its infrastructure across battleground states to catch up to Democrats, who have a significant head start.

For Biden, 81, the tempo is a message in and of itself as he aims to combat persistent voter concerns about his age. Whoever wins in November will be the oldest president to be inaugurated, though polls find that voters see the issue as more pressing for Biden. Trump is 77.

Both sides are projecting confidence and accusing the other of trying to hide its candidate's problems.

Biden “looks like a lost puppy any time he ventures onto the campaign trail,” said Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who accused Biden’s campaign of limiting his events to "stops at field offices with a few paid staffers who look less enthused than attendees at a funeral.”

Trump, she went on to say, “is greeted by crowds of enthusiastic Americans everywhere he goes, and he will continue to hold massive rallies around the country with tens of thousands of supporters who want to ‘Make America Great Again.’ Joe Biden’s campaign is a failing, boring, disaster. President Trump is building the greatest political movement in history.”

Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa disagreed.

“We are two weeks into the general election and Donald Trump can’t raise money, is hiding at his country club, and is letting convicts and conspiracy theorists take over his campaign," he said in a statement. “That is not a winning strategy.”

Biden's team is trying to sell the public on his accomplishments as concerns persist that voters are unaware of what he's done in office and are instead focused on frustrations over high grocery costs and concerns about the sharp rise in illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“We have not been talking to folks about the issues that President Biden has been delivering on,” said Yolanda Bejarano, the state Democratic chairwoman in Arizona, where Biden campaigned last week. “That’s what we are determined to do.”

His aides have packaged his campaign stops with official White House events designed to promote his policy agenda and legislative achievements.

Trump has been spending his days in and around his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida — fundraising, hosting elected officials who frequently visit, and meeting aides.

But Trump has also made time for other pursuits. He recently said he won two championships at his Palm Beach golf club, writing on his social media site that they were “very exciting" wins on a “GREAT and difficult course.” He visited his golf club in West Palm Beach on Sunday to accept two trophies from a cheering audience.

Trump faces a slew of pressing legal challenges. That includes a Monday deadline to pay more than $454 million in fines and interest. If Trump doesn’t come up with the money, New York’s attorney general could start the process of seizing his assets.

Instead of his signature large rallies, aides say, Trump has been attending fundraising events five to six days a week. That includes lunches and dinners that bring in immediate cash as well as relationship-building meetings that could result in future checks.

On Thursday, his super political action committee held a $100,000-per-person roundtable with Hispanic leaders at his golf club in Doral, Florida, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by The Associated Press.

“There is great enthusiasm in the community,” said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, one of the hosts.

Not holding events also saves the campaign cash it does not have to waste. Trump's rallies cost “half a million a pop,” Trump senior advisor Chris LaCivita said in a podcast interview last year.

Federal campaign finance filings released last week showed Trump's political operation at a serious disadvantage and struggling to catch up to Biden and the Democratic Party, which raised $53 million last month and ended February with $155 million cash on hand.

Trump’s campaign and his Save America political action committee, two key groups in his political operation, reported raising a combined $15.9 million in February and ended the month with more than $37 million on hand.

The empty public calendar is also a reflection of scheduling changes. Trump had been planning to spend much of the next six weeks in court at his New York hush money trial, which was supposed to begin Monday. That trial has since been postponed, forcing the campaign to readjust. (Trump is expected to attend a Monday hearing.)

But even without public events, the developments in Trump's legal cases as well as a steady stream of inflammatory statements — like his assertion that Jews who vote for Democrats hate their religion and Israel — ensure he dominates news cycles.

That assertion came in one of a series of interviews he has done with friendly broadcasters since becoming his party's presumptive nominee, including a sit-down with right-wing British leader Nigel Farage.

Some allies of the former president argue that holding fewer rallies helps him not only by saving money but by limiting opportunities for him to go off-script and say something that might alienate swing voters.

The campaign, however, rejected that thinking and said it has no intention of running the kind of “basement campaign” that Trump aides assailed Biden for running in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump flouted the guidance of his own government's public health experts on social distancing and mask wearing, holding rallies and White House events before vaccines were available, like a reception for his Supreme Court nominee that became a superspreader event.

Biden has also brought in tens of millions of dollars for his campaign in recent weeks. On Thursday, he’ll raise even more at a joint event with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton in New York that may break party fundraising records for a single event.

Otherwise, he has been favoring smaller, more intimate events — joining a family for a meal at their kitchen table, popping into small businesses and meeting supporters in backyards.

Like Trump's, his campaign questions the value of expensive-to-produce rallies this far from Election Day. And there are real concerns about his ability to fill a room given still-flagging Democratic enthusiasm as well as the protests he faces from voters angry over his support for Israel’s war against Hamas.

The smaller events are designed to produce short social media moments that resonate with Biden’s target voters online and reach audiences that would probably miss more conventional campaign stops.

Last week, he met several dozen supporters in Reno, Nevada, center of the state’s sole swing county, before heading to south-central Phoenix, where he mingled with about 80 people at a storied Mexican restaurant as his campaign launched a coalition called “Latinos con Biden-Harris,” or “Latinos with Biden-Harris.”

“I need you badly, I need the help,” Biden told them. “Look, there’s only about six or seven states that are going to determine the outcome of this election. They’re toss-up states, and this is one of them.”

Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim in Phoenix and Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami contributed to this report.

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U.S. Draft Resolution Would Call for ‘Immediate and Sustained Cease-Fire’

A resolution for the U.N. that American diplomats are circulating was notable for its strong language in seeking a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages.

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By Michael Crowley and Thomas Fuller

Michael Crowley reported from Cairo and the Middle East, where he was traveling with the secretary of state, and Thomas Fuller from San Francisco.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, traveling in the Middle East on Thursday, pressed for a halt to fighting in the Gaza Strip as the United States prepared to introduce a resolution at the United Nations on Friday calling for “an immediate and sustained cease-fire .”

The Security Council resolution drafted by the United States contains the strongest language that Washington has supported so far, and was an apparent shift for Israel’s closest ally. In February, the United States vetoed a Council resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire.

The new resolution also condemns the Hamas-led attacks on Israel of Oct. 7 that set off the war and the hostage-taking that day, and expresses support for the negotiations to free those still being held in Gaza.

When the United States vetoed the earlier resolution, American officials said they had done so because they were concerned that it could disrupt hostage negotiations. But Biden administration officials have grown more outspoken in recent weeks in their push for a cease-fire, as experts have warned of imminent famine in Gaza and pressure grows for stronger international action.

The resolution being circulated by U.S. diplomats and obtained by The New York Times on Thursday said that the Council “ determines the imperative of an immediate and sustained cease-fire to protect civilians on all sides, allow for the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance, and alleviate humanitarian suffering, and towards that end unequivocally supports ongoing international diplomatic efforts to secure such a cease-fire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”

The resolution also notes the “deep concern about the threat of conflict-induced famine and epidemics.”

The call for an “immediate and sustained” cease-fire was markedly stronger language than a draft Security Council resolution that the United States circulated in February, which called for a temporary cease-fire “as soon as practicable.”

The Biden administration also used the resolution to reiterate its opposition to Israel’s planned invasion of the southern Gazan city Rafah, which is packed with war refugees. It expresses “concern that a ground offensive into Rafah would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement including potentially into neighboring countries.”

In Egypt on Thursday, Mr. Blinken met with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as well as with several Arab foreign ministers — including those from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority — to discuss how postwar Gaza could be governed and kept secure.

The group also planned to discuss providing Gazan civilians, trapped in a humanitarian crisis, with more aid.

Mr. Blinken had arrived from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where, in an interview with the Saudi-run news channel Al Hadath , he said that he hoped other countries would back the U.S.-proposed Security Council resolution. “I think that would send a strong message, a strong signal,” he said.

He also said that cease-fire negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar between Hamas and Israel were “getting closer” to reaching an agreement. Negotiators have been in Qatar since Monday for the latest round of talks , after several previous attempts ended without a resolution.

On Thursday, Mr. Blinken said obstacles to a deal remained.

“There’s still real challenges,” he said, speaking alongside his Egyptian counterpart at a news conference in Cairo. “We’ve closed the gaps, but there are still gaps.”

Last week, Hamas presented a new proposal that excluded a previous demand that Israel immediately agree to a permanent cease-fire in return for beginning an exchange of hostages for Palestinians in Israeli prisons, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Israeli officials said ahead of this week’s talks that the broad proposal being discussed included a 42-day pause in fighting, in exchange for the release of 40 of the more than 100 hostages believed to be in Gaza.

Mr. Blinken also held a late-night meeting with the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in which he emphasized the Biden administration’s eventual goal of “the establishment of a future Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel,” the State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, said in a statement on Thursday.

He said Mr. Blinken and the crown prince had “continued discussions on achieving lasting regional peace and security, including through greater integration among countries in the region and enhanced bilateral cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia.”

The reference was to discussions between the Biden administration and Saudi Arabia about a possible deal in which the kingdom would establish normal diplomatic relations with Israel for the first time. In return, the Saudis have asked the United States for security guarantees, arms sales and backing for a civil nuclear program.

Such a deal would most likely require Israeli support for a path to Palestinian statehood.

Mr. Blinken plans to travel on to Israel , where he will discuss the potential Saudi normalization agreement, as well as ways to protect and deliver more aid to civilians there.

The diplomatic efforts on Thursday came as the Israeli military’s raid on the largest medical center in Gaza stretched into a fourth day. The military said on Thursday that it had killed dozens of people it described as terrorists in the previous 24 hours in and around the hospital, Al-Shifa, in central Gaza.

Israel has staged a series of raids on the hospital. Since the latest attack began on Monday, the Israeli military has reported killing more than 140 people it said were terrorists, far more than in past raids. On Thursday, the military said it had also detained 600 people at the hospital.

Israel has said that Hamas has used the hospital as a command center and concealed weapons and fighters in underground tunnels there.

Reporting was contributed by Victoria Kim , Matthew Mpoke Bigg , Hiba Yazbek and Lauren Leatherby .

Michael Crowley covers the State Department and U.S. foreign policy for The Times. He has reported from nearly three dozen countries and often travels with the secretary of state. More about Michael Crowley

Thomas Fuller , a Page One Correspondent for The Times, writes and rewrites stories for the front page. More about Thomas Fuller

Our Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

News and Analysis

​The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire  in Gaza for the month of Ramadan, breaking a five-month impasse during which the United States vetoed several calls for ending the war.

​Witnesses have described scenes of fear and deprivation  at Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, which has been under an Israeli siege. Israel said the operation is targeting Hamas leaders.

​In Gaza, officials are struggling to count the dead because many bodies are trapped beneath rubble. The buried make up a shadow death toll in the territory.

A Power Vacuum: Since the start of the war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has done little to address the power vacuum that would appear after Israeli forces leave Gaza. The risks of inaction are already apparent in Gaza City .

Chuck Schumer’s Speech:  Speaking to the U.S. Senate, the majority leader and highest-ranking Jewish official in the United States branded Netanyahu a major impediment to peace. In an interview, he explained why he felt obligated  to call for new leadership in Israel.

A Tough Balancing Act: Israel has been noticeably out of step with Western nations when it comes to relations with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. That approach reflects unique security needs that have gained new relevance  since the start of the war in Gaza.

A Struggle for Life’s Basics: Most of Gaza’s population fled to the southern territory of Rafah , hoping to escape the war. As they hunt for food and shelter, a potential Israeli invasion has added to their fears.